Discussion

Where to buy meaty, local ribs?

I am looking for raw product in the greater Seattle area that I will cook myself. I have bought from PCC and their ribs, while a very good product are not very meaty. Their producer slaughters betweeen 220 and 260 lbs and I think that's why they are on the light side. The spares usually weigh in at a bit over 3 lbs. I'm looking for 5-6 lbs.

My main goal is to avoid factory farms so local could be 400 to 500 miles as long as I can still get them at a store in this area.

Yes to pork. There are lots of places where I can get meaty ribs, Safeway, QFC, Costco, but those are all factory items. I've cooked lots of those and they make delicious bbq. Right now I'd like to find a product that is as meaty, but grown locally.

I've got a couple of St. Louis-style racks from the Swinery cooking (slowly) now. They are definitely closer to 3lbs each than 5lbs, so I may have been off in my earlier assertion. I still think the meat-to-bone ratio is pretty good, though.

Never heard of the Swinery. Will have to check them out. I have always wanted to try Rainshadow meats, but it's a bit of a trek for me. I checked out Bill the Butcher the other day. They had some nice looking product, but it was 3.5 lbs.

I just re-read your message. If they are truly St Louis, and have the flap from the spare removed, 3 lbs would be very good. Do you remember if they had the flap removed? That's the part with the cartalage.